14. Runa
Runa
We’re cooked.
Fried.
Dead.
Why are we still breathing?
Maren and Sven broke the law, the treaty, even. They handed their lives over to Ash’s mercy, and Ash isn’t known for mercy. A man who burns the world isn’t exactly merciful.
Maren stopped crying. To be honest, she looks relieved, or maybe she’s so medicated and drunk that she doesn’t realize Ash could ask for both her and Sven to be executed. Which is why I threatened him. I shouldn’t have.
Even though Maren and Ash never had a relationship, Maren betrayed the treaty and Ash by default. It makes him look bad, some would say weak. I don’t know what he’ll do.
“How long has this affair been going on?” Ash finally asks.
“A few months,” Sven admits, red-faced. “Before she was betrothed to you.”
“Do you love this human?” Blade asks.
Maren nods. “I’ll never make a good omega for any wolf. I have no need to nest. I want to be with my Sveny and only him.” She sobs. “I’m sorry, Ash. I’m sorry they all lied to you, and I went along with it. I was too scared to say anything when they told me you asked for my hand in marriage.”
Ash is quiet for a moment. “I never asked for your hand.”
Maren wipes her face. “What do you mean?”
He shakes his head. “I conquered the Mainland Peak and took over a thousand humans and Stormcrest wolves prisoner. Your father rode into my camp with an offer. I accepted because he promised to return three hundred of my own wolves that he captured three nights before I took the Peak. The Peacebroker drew up a treaty.” He looks between Maren and me. “That is what happened.”
Maren sniffs. “We were told you asked to marry me.”
Soren walks in, followed by my father. The room is full of alpha male energy now. It’s not hostile yet, but as soon as my father finds out that Maren broke the treaty, he will lose his mind.
My sister looks at Ash with pleading eyes.
She doesn’t want him to tell our father.
She’s terrified of what my dad will do when he finds out that Ash knows Maren is in love with another man.
Emphasis on man, because a werewolf is not a man.
A werewolf is a werewolf, and my sister just broke the pact we made with the most dangerous wolf in the world.
How are we going to survive this? What will be the consequences of Maren’s betrayal?
What about those prisoners of war? Is it really a betrayal if Maren refused to whore herself out for peace?
Surely she deserves to fall in love with whomever she wants and live her life with a man who seems to love her back.
He tried to kill a wolf ten times stronger and more powerful than him.
If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.
Ash swipes Blade’s coat from the back of the couch.
He stands and approaches my sister. “I’m relieved that you came to check on me.
As you can see, I’m fine.” He drapes the coat around her shoulders while Maren stares up at him, confusion and fear reflected on her face.
“Sven, would you escort the sisters to their rooms now? I don’t want them to catch a cold. ”
Ash gave us an exit. I stand and yawn, pretending as if we had the most boring night spent knitting by the fireplace. “Let’s go, sister. Leave them to their cards.”
Maren doesn’t need to be told twice. We exit with the human escort. I do have to give Sven some props. He’s a brave man. But bravery won’t save him if he challenges the Fireborn Alpha.